Support Groups

Support Groups

On a local level, members meet together monthly to share
experiences and information on an informal basis. Most groups
function as support-giving entities to individuals with brain
injury and to their families. We have support groups active in
several communities throughout Oregon .

Many of these area support groups have more than one support
group; for instance, one for survivors, one for families, and
one for recreational activities. Benefits of participating in a
local support group meeting include presentations by specialty
speakers, referrals to local resources, and emotional support
from others in similar circumstances.

People with traumatic brain injuries find fellowship and
inspiration from support group on youtube:

Margo Westover, a resident at Pheasant Pointe Assisted Living in Molalla, shocked her doctor a few months ago when she announced plans to start exercising.

“I haven’t exercised in a gazillion years,” said Westover, 60, a retired nurse who now relies on a motorized wheelchair for mobility.
Westover suffers from arthritis and kidney failure. But when she heard about the water aerobics classes offered at Molalla Aquatic Center, she decided to give them a try. Now, she regularly attends three times a week.

“It just feels good to get out there and get my body working and I hope that maybe someday I won’t have to use this,” she said, pointing to her wheelchair. “It’s just made me happy. It’s fun. It’s nice to get away from the house.”

She’s noticed she sleeps better now and said the swelling in her legs from lymphedema is not as bad.

Westover is among three Pheasant Pointe residents who have started water aerobics, thanks to the Brain Injury Association of Oregon, which provided them with pool passes and also purchased weight belts and foam noodles for use in the classes.

A survivor support line is now available to provide telephone
support to those who suffer from all levels of brain impairment.
4peer11 is a survivor run, funded, operated and managed-emotional
help line. We do not give medical advice, but we DO have two
compassionate ears. We have survived some form of brain injury or a
we are a survivor who is significant in the life of a survivor.

The number to call 855-473-3711 (855-4peer11). Live operators
are available from 9am-9pm Pacific Standard Time. If a call comes
when an operator is not free please leave a message. Messages are
returned on a regular basis.

Sometimes we are not notified about changes to schedules. Please contact the support group to verify that it is meeting at the listed time and place

BIRRDsong
1st Saturday 9:30 - 11
1. Peer support group that is open to everyone, including family and the public
2. Family and Friends support group that is only for family and friends
Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital
Wistar Morris Room.
1015 NW 22nd Portland, 97210
Brian Liebenstein 503-608-2378
peersupportcoordinator@birrdsong.org

FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Wednesdays: 10:00-12:00
Currently combined with THRIVE SUPPORT GROUP/PARENTS OF CHILDREN
WITH BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP
Contact for further information
braininjuryhelp@yahoo.com Pat Murray 503-752-6065
MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED

OHSU Sports Concussion Support
GroupFor Youth and Their Families who
have been affected by a head injury
2nd Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 pm
OHSU Center for Health and Healing
3303 SW Bond Ave,
3rd floor conference room
Portland, OR 97239
For more information or to RSVP contact Jennifer Wilhelm
(503) 494-3151 or email: wilhelmj@ohsu.eduSponsored by OHSU Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH BRAIN INJURY Wednesdays: 10:00-12:00
Currently combined with
THRIVE SUPPORT GROUP/ FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Contact for further information
braininjuryhelp@yahoo.com Pat Murray 503-752-6065MUST BE PRE-REGISTEREDbraininjuryhelporg@yahoo.comCall Pat Murray 503-406-2881

THRIVE SUPPORT GROUP
Wednesdays: 10:00-12:00
Brain Injury Survivor support group ages 15-25
Currently combined with
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP/PARENTS OF CHILDDREN WITH BRAIN INJURY
SUPPORT GROUP
Contact for further information
braininjuryhelp@yahoo.com Pat Murray 503-752-6065
MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED
braininjuryhelporg@yahoo.comCall Pat Murray 503-752-6065MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED

The Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon and its Oregon Brain
Injury Resource Network are committed to assisting families and
service providers with meeting the need for resources in a
variety of languages. Here are some of the resources we have
identified to begin meeting this need. Please contact us at
info@biaia.org if you have other resources we could link to.

Brain Injury Links,
Products and Information
are for your convenience. The material on this website is
provided for education and information purposes only. The Brain
Injury Alliance of Oregon does not support, endorse or
recommend any method, treatment, facility, product or firm
mentioned on the website. The Brain Injury Alliance of
Oregon does not control third party websites and are not
responsible for their contents. The Brain Injury Alliance of
Oregon does not endorse, recommend, or approve any third party
website hyperlinked from this Website and shall have no
liability to any entity for the content or use of the content
available through such hyperlink. Always seek medical, legal or
other professional advice as appropriate.